'WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1857
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post-oak tree, rather out of view of the camp, and at the same time I sent for Erastus (called Deaf) Smith, and ordered him not to pass the line of sentinels that day without my knowledge, as I did not know at what moment I might want him. My orders were obeyed. So when the suggestion of making a floating bridge, and calling a Council of War, were proposed 1 neither experiment could in any way, as the sequel showed, interfere with my plans. Hence, so soon as the council of war decided not to attack the enemy, but to let them attack us, I dismissed the Council and immediately sent for Deaf Smith to select a com- panion and meet me at the tree spoken of, both to be well mounted. In a few minutes he was at the place designated, with a young man named Rivers, with auburn hair. I gave thein the axes and directed them to hasten to Vince's bridge, cut it down, and set it on fire. At the same time I said to Smith, Unless you hasten, you will find the prairie changed from green to red on your return! The order was executed, and Smith with his com- panion returned, when our lines were within seventy yards of the enemy, and announced to the Commander-in-Chief that Vince's bridge was cut down, and set on fire. He then rushed upon the enemy and fought with unrivalled courage and gal- lantry throughout the battle. The General dashed in front of Burleson's regiment, and announced the fact to the army. Up to the time Deaf Smith reported the fact to the General, there were not more than four persons on earth who knew what the General proposed, or I presume some gentlemen would have thought it a very rash and unnecessary act.-Those who thought a floating bridge necessary, would not have approved the meas- ure had it been made known to them. In the face of the facts, will any sane man believe that Mr. Lamar's and General Sher- man's statements about what they said, and what Gen. Houston saicl to them in a whining tone, or in any kind of tone, contains one word of truth? A letter written by the Commander-in- Chief to Col. R. Raguet, of Nacogdoches, on the 19th of April, 1836, two days previous to the battle, evinces his purpose and foreshadows his subsequent course of conduct. Of this letter I will give an extract: "This morning we are in preparation to meet Santa Anna. It is the only chance of saving Texas. From time to time I have looked for reinforcements in vain. The Convention adjourning to Harrisburg struck panic throughout the country. Texas could have started at least four thousand men. We will only be about
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